The Battle of Nibeiwa was fought on the morning of 9 December 1940, during the initial phase of Operation Compass. Fort Nibeiwa was defended by the Raggruppamento Maletti, a motorized Italo-Lybian unit commanded by General Pietro Maletti, a veteran of the desert. The British noticed that there was a large gap in the minefields and barbed wire behind the camp, and decided a surprise attack from this side. After an artillery bombardment from the East (to hide the direction of the attack) , at 7:45 AM, 47 Matilda MkII of the 7th RTR, supported by British and Indian infantry, advanced from the North trough the gap. The Italians were completely unprepared, and all the M11/39 tanks (probably the worst medium tank in human history...) were destroyed or captured. Italian artillerymen resisted fiercely but at 8:30 AM all resistance ceased. The Raggruppamento Maletti was wiped out, with 800 killed (including General Pietro Maletti), 1.300 wounded and 2.000 prisoners, while the British lost only 56 men.
- The Italian fort is made with some scratch-build ruins and four resin Middle East buildings (Simply 6)
British (Average)
8 x Matilda MkII (1 is HQ)
8 x Infantry
Italian (Green)
HQ
6 x M11/39
2 x 75mm Field Gun (in Field Defences)
4 x 47mm AT Gun (in Field Defences)
20 x Minefield (10 are "fake")
10 x Barbed Wire
The situation at Fort Nibeiwa make this battle an ideal solo scenario. To give the Italians some more chances, the minefields extend all over the rear perimeter of the camp.
To represent surprise, disorganization and lack of radios of M11/39, roll 1 D6 = nr. of tanks that can move in that turn (all can shoot anyway).
To win the game, the British must Destroy all M11/39 and at least 3 artillery units, loosing no more than 3 Matilda Mk II. Otherwise the attack fails. If the Italian M11/39 withdraw behind the defensive artillery line, the garrison surrenders.
- Italian M11/39 and artillery are from Heroics & Ros
The Matildas advanced and met the minefield, but only 1 unit was Suppressed (and was not Rallied throughout the game). In the meantime, Italian field artillery started firing at long range, with no results. M11/39 withdrew progressively, exchanging fire with Matildas and loosing 1 unit. The Italians were confident that the minefield could have stopped the British, but now they see that their AT guns can not harm the enemy tanks! British armour reach the defensive line, and the Italians are only able to kill 2 British infantry units with field artillery shells. M11/39 are made to pieces and even General Maletti is steamrolled to the ground by one Matilda... just at the end of the battle, one British armoured unit is destroyed by one battery of 47mm AT at point blank, but the battle is over.
Losses are: Italians 1 x HQ, 6 x M11/39, 3 x AT guns; British 1 x Matilda, 2 x Infantry
Not a balanced game (Italians have simply no hope to survive) but a good solo exercise... and a way of remember our fathers and grandfathers.
- British infantry by Irregular Miniatures, Matilda Mk 2 by Heroics & Ros.
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